More Santa Rosa County districting options given

After hearing opposition regarding the first proposed redistricting map, Santa Rosa County has released three more proposed maps.

Option two shows District 4 bounded on the west by Edgewood Drive and Williams Creek and extends northward to the Yellow River.

Option three offers the same western boundary for District 4 as option two but extends northward past the East River only to include the Holley community.

Option four offers the same western boundary of District 4 but extends northward only to the East River, moving the Holley community to District 2. This option would also move District 4 Commissioner Jim Melvin to District 2 because he lives on Blackwater Bay.

Several residents on the south end of the county expressed their desire to have the District 4 line moved south so two commissioners would be from the south end of the county.

Commissioner Jim Melvin received some criticism during an Aug. 22 meeting while the board was receiving public input about redistricting.

Rob Williamson, a District 2 zoning board member, said it was obvious Santa Rosa County was growing and changing.

For more on this story, see the September 1 issue of the Navarre Press or subscribe online.